Portable display device



Oct. 7, 1941." A. M. BARRETT 2,258,273

PORTABLE DISPLAY DEVI CE Filed April 18, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS .12

Oct 7, 941. l A. M. BARRETT 2,258,273v v PORTABLE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed April 18, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 35 ZLZ/ZJZ/WMZZZ E BY ATTORNEYJ' 4;

Oct..7, 1941. A, M, BARREfi' 2,258,273

P RTABLE DISPLAY DEVICE Patented Oct. 7, 1941 PORTABLE DISPLAY DEVICE Arthur M. Barrett, Winnetka, Ill., assignor to l The Barrett Bindery 00., Chicago, Ill., a oornotation of Illinois 15 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for supporting i lustrated matter, reading matter, ,or the like, in theform ,of .a collectioniof ,sheets or leaves bearing the desired matter and loosely bound together,

permanentlybound together in bookierm, vor arranged together in any othersuitable manner.

1 iny e'ntion is directed ,to ,a device of ,the character stated Whichis particularlysuitable for display purposes; when closed simulates the ,appearance of a book and when opened provides ,an adjustable supporting structure in ,the nature of an easel, by means of which the contained leaves may ,be disposed ,at various angles to the horizontallsoas ,to be viewed .to best advantage; may belopened, adjusted and closed with expedition andfacility; will support the contained material rigidly and positively in desired adjustment; is readily adaptable to material either bound together in loose leaf form ,or permanently ,bound together .in book form; t and may be provided with means forholding the sheets .or leaves to be displayed in extended position, ,such means being effective ,for assisting in ,closing -the device, and, if desired, with means for supporting at their lowenedges the leaves in the extended; open roan.- dition of the ,device; 7 r l While .thedevice of my invention is particularly suitable for display purposes, it :rnay be lusedut o advantage for .various other purposes such as ior example, for supporting, books, magazines, ,or}

other readingfmatter imposition to be readily visible .and readable withwease Further objects and advantages'nf my invention will appear from the.detaill desoription. .Inthedrawings: a A v Figure 1 is a front View of ,adisplay dev ieeembodying my invention, in open :condition ,Witha plurality ,of leaves, loosely secured together, mounted therein;

,Eig'ure 2 is a back view, on aredllced scale of thedevioe oiFigure 1;,

.,Figure 3 is a sectional ,view, .on ,an enlarged scale, .taken substantiallyon line fi l-fiof Figure t is leaves shown in the, latter figure ,being omitted fornlearness of illustration; I l I Figured :isa fragmentaryseetiona] view ontan enlarged scale, takensubstantially on line 4:14 of i u ed;

Figure 5 is 1a.semi-diagrammatic side .view of the-device of Figure 3 .adjusted;at,adifferent angle thQflythQ-trShOWIl in thelatter figure; l

Figure 6 is a semi-diagrammaticside viewof the device of ,Figure .5 adjusted so asto occupy a,tl 1ird,position; 1 r

y .Figurefl :is ,a fragmentary, sectional view', on, an

Application Apr-i118, 194( SerialNo.'330,308

(Cl. 281-33) I me ed sta e, tak n substantially o i e f F u e j F gure 8 is a ewsimi a o Esm one elat ve y red ced scale; o a modified rm .o devic y Fi ure 9 is a i aamentar sect onalview, an enlarged scale, taken substantially ,online 3 1 9 of Figur B, rtain parts in sho n in plan;

F gur 0 is a r n View o a second difie v1 11 I evice e bod ing my inv nt w th a erma ntl bpu dhook m unted th rein; the

the n: 1 y

"Fi ure :13 i a sec iona vie takensubs a t a l Q 1 nel 3 o Figure l2; an 1 Figu 1415 in end v ewo t e de ice a wn inE gure 12, wi t e ook om tt d h d v c o my i ve ion compr ses, i eral; a lu alit o hineeclly onnect d s bs an-. tia y r d members pro i in in e iect, a link d structure adjustable into various positions. More s c fi ly he-stru re h u v d d adius a I n o a rst p s defin n a t i n le w t its front, sideinclined ,at a predetermined angle to the horizontal and "into a second position defining a secon an e he f ont de Q whic is inclined to the horizontal at a predetermined ns e ess than that o t r p s tion- T structure may also be folded ,so as to lie ,flat upon a horizontal supporting surface. It is thus po s ble b t e selo y d ice, l po tma terial oontained therein in anyone of three differentpositions.

y I l' hfiflhlSlfiifiliBd em di en o my enon shown b waylof ,ex m lath oev elcow pr ses a fabr c ho rin and su stantia y ri d ins ts, pro idi gid .me h rsnhinsedly eons nest d t e o e ns- An oth r suitab nru ion whi provides subs antial y r id e hers connected together for adjustment in the mannerstated may employedwithin the broad q epto myinven mm v y The device shown in figures 1 to 6, inclusive, comprises a fabric main covering IS in theiorm of ,a closed loop havinera front portion, a back portionsextending ,downwardjrom the upper edge of t e, o t por on, an a bo to portio I necting the lower edges of the front and the back portions. The inner or front portion of main covering l has its lateral edge portions turned in at l6, as shown more clearly in Figure 4, and secured to a sheet I! of fabric constituting a portion of a supplementary fabric covering, and the back portion thereof has its marginal portions l8 turned inward and rearward and secured to the marginal portions of a fabric sheet I9 forming another element of the supplementary covering. The end portions of main covering I5 are disposed in overlapping relation, with their lateral marginal portions turned inward and downward, and are suitably secured together, as by means of an appropriate adhesive, as will appear mor clearly from Figure 7. The covering thus provided, including the main covering and the supplemental covering, comprises front and back portions hinged together at their upper edges by covering l5, at 2B, and connected together at their lower edges by a flexible stop member 2|. The latter limits movement apart of th front and back portions and is foldable upward therebetween, along a central transverse fold line or crease 2 la, when the latter members are folded one on the other, as will appear more fully presently.

The front portion, which is of rectangular shape, receives two rectangular cover reinforcing inserts 22, formed of cardboard or other suitable substantially rigid material, and, if desired, though not necessarily, a relatively narrow rectangular substantially rigid back reinforcing insert 23, likewise formed of cardboard or other suitable material. The inner edges of inserts 22 are spaced from the lateral edges of insert 23, as shown in Figure 9, these inserts constituting, with the front portion of the covering, a front member comprising two cover elements 24 and a back element or backbone 25, hingedly connected at 26 by the fabric covering. Preferably, a fabric strip 21 (Figures 5 and 11) is secured by a suitable adhesive to the upper areas of the front and the back portions, providing a hinge connection therebetween supplementary to the connection 20. Th inserts 22 and 23, if the latter be used, are secured in position within the cover in a suitable manner, conveniently by means of an adhesive.

The back portion of the covering receives, at

each side thereof, upper and lower rectangular substantially rigid cover inserts 28 and 29, respectively, and, at its central portion, if desired, though not necessarily, rectangular substantially rigid upper and lowerback inserts 3E! and 3|.

The inner edges of cover inserts 28 and 29 are spaced from the lateral edges of back inserts 30 and 3|, when used, and are hingedly connected thereto by the covering, at 32. The inserts 28 and 30 have their lower edges spaced a short distance from the upper edges of the inserts 29 and 3|, respectively, and hingedly connected thereto by the covering, at 33 and 34. The inserts 28 and 29 are suitably secured in the covering, conveniently by means of an appropriate adhesive, as are the inserts 30 and 3| if used. The back portion of the covering and the associated inserts thus constitute a back or outer member comprising cover elements 35 and a back element 36 corresponding to and foldable about the cover elements and back element of the front member. 7

Each of the cover elements 35 of the back member comprises an upper section 35a and a lower section 35b','hinged together at 33 by the covering, and the back element 36 comprises an upper section 36a and a lower section 35b hinged together by the covering at 34, the hinge lines of the cover elements and the back element being, of course, aligned as shown. Constructing the back member in this manner provides, in conjunction with the front member, a structure which, when not in use, may readily be folded into book form, the parts being appropriately proportioned to that end, so as closely to simulate in appearance an ordinary book. Further, the structure referred to renders possible adjustment thereof, when the device is in extended or opened condition, in such manner as to dispose the inner or front member at various angles to the horizontal. In Figure 3 the device is shown adjusted into what I term its first position. When thus adjusted the device forms, in side View, a triangle defined by substantially the lower half of the front member, the stop member 2| and the lower section of the back member, the upper section of the back member extending upward from the vertex of this triangle and seating against the back of the upper half of the front member. In that manner th front member is rigidly supported at a downward and formed inclination for supporting thereon, at the same inclination, a collection or assembly of sheets or leaves mounted on the front member in a suitable manner. By disposing the device so as to define, in side view, a second triangle in which the lower section of the back member is aligned with stop member 2|, with the upper section of the back member extending from the upper edge of the front member to the lower section of the back member, the front member is rigidly supported in a second inclined position at a considerably less angle to the horizontal than in Figure 3, as shown in Figure 5. By folding the stop member 2| upward about the folding line or crease Zlw, into position between the lower portion of the front member and the lower section of the back member, the latter member may be disposed, throughout its height, in substantially parallel relation to the front member, the device then being capable of lying in a flat horizontal position as shown in Figure 6. When thus disposed, the device may readily be folded into closed condition, with the back and cover elements of the back member extending over and about the corresponding elements of the front member, as above described. It is thus possible, by constructing the device in the manner shown and described, to support the front member thereof in any one of a plurality of positions, and the desired adjustments may be effected quickly and easily, as will be apparent.

In Figure 1 I have shown a plurality of sheets or leaves 38, loosely secured together in a known manner, by means of a coiled connecting member 39, of known type, mounted on the front member by means of binder mechanism 40, also of known type. This binder mechanism may be suitably secured, as by means of rivets, to backbone 25 of the front member and includes a flat rod or strip 6| pivoted at one end and releasably secured at the other end, this rod being inserted through the coil member 39. I also provide an elastic member or cord 42 extending across the cover elements and backbone of the front member, adjacent the lower edges thereof, this elastic member having its ends secured to the cover elements adjacent the outer edges thereof and being of such length as to be placed under tension when the cover elements are disposed in -full open position extending from opposite sides :of thebackbonein the plane thereof. The elastic ;:x nember 42 confines the leaves 38 for retaining them in desired position. I preferably also pro- ..vide j supporting angle brackets 43, riveted or :otherwisesuitably secured to the inner faces of ithefront cover elements, below elastic member -42. These brackets serve to support the leaves .3B, at the lower edges thereof, confining them against; downward displacement. Preferably one ofthe brackets 43 is disposed slightly lower than .the -other bracket, the arrangement being such that these brackets may be disposed in inter- .fitti-ng relation without distorting the device in the closed condition of the latter.

1 While the member 42 is placed under tension 'when the device is in open position, its tendency to 162.1188 closing of the device is not effective, .since such closing movement is preventedby the rea-rwardly extending portions of the back memberand the stop member, as will be clear from F gures 3 and 5. However, if the device, when :a djusted as .in either Figure 3 or Figure 5, be grasped at its upper back portion and raised from the supporting surface upon which it rests,

the elasticmember 42 will act-to swing the cover elements of the front member forward toward i'closing position, causing folding 'of the stop memberil and movement of the back member forward into parallelism with the front member,

thus facilitating folding and closing of the device. The form of device shown in Figures8 and :9 :is ,;in:general, similar to that shown in Figures 1 1-to {7, inclusive, and a brief description thereof will suffice. In Figures 8 and 9 the covering is met extended between the lower edges of the inner and the, outer members to provide a stop member. Instead, I provide a separate strap 45, provided with 2a central transverse folding crease =46,1this strap being suitably secured at itsends, as by meansof rivets 47, to the backbones of the inner and the outer members of the device. -A binder mechanism 48, for connecting together :leavesin loose leaf binder form, of a'known type different from that of Figures. 1 and *3, is secured toithe backbone of the front member. In'other (respects the "device shown in Figures -8-and 9 .is similar to that shown in Figures 1 to '7, inclusive, and need not-be described in greater detail.

1 The form of device shown in Figures 1-0 and 11 iSQiHteIIdEd for use with permanently bound books having substantially rigid covers. In general, the construction and operation is similar to that of the devices shown in Figures 1 to 9, inclusive, and requires no detailed description except withrespect to those features having to do with the particular use of the device.

:In Figures 10 and 11 the main covering 45a extends buta comparatively short distance from theupper edge of the back member and from the front of the stop member 2|, and has its lateral marginal portions'turned rearward and inward to provide upper and lower front pockets 49 and 50, respectively, of comparatively short height. These pockets receive the 'top'and bottom portions of covers 0 of a permanently bound book B, the covers being secured in the pockets by a suitable adhesive, there being a covering sheet of paper -s adhesively secured to the inner -faceof each cover c-and over the major area of the front portion of the pockets 49 and 50, respectively; The book B is so disposed that the backbone thereof coincides with the backbone oftheidlsplay'device. In this construction the covers of the book-constitute the cover elements .of the front member and the device as a whole .may be adjusted and manipulated in the same manner as the devices of Figuresl to 9, inclusive.

The modified form -of device shownin Figures 12 to 14, inclusive, is quitesimilar to that of Figures 1 to -3, inclusive. Each of the front cover elements 24a is provided with a pocket 5| of a size-and shape to receive cover 0' of a permanently bound book B.

Preferably, the inner 'edges of pockets 5| are curved, as shown at 52,

to facilitate insertion thereinto of the book covers. tsuitable'manner. Conveniently, the main cover- These pockets 5.! may be formed in any ing is-cutathrough on an arcuate line extending from a point adjacent the upper outer corner of front cover element 2 4a toward thediagonally opposite corner, the portion of the covering beextend across the lower corners of the pages'of the book .3, as shown in Figure -12, for holding them in position. The pages may be turned in the usual manner without hindrance, since they will readily slip from under the cord and may as readily be inserted therebeneath.

."It will be noted, from Figure 13, that the back- ;bones 25a. and 3600f the front and back members, respectivelmof the device of Figure 12, are .not provided with stiffen-ing inserts. Such in- ,ser-tsmay be used'or not, .as desired, in all-of the illustrated embodiments of my invention.

While I have shown by Way of example, in certain forms of the device of my invention, binder mechanisms of known type for mounting thereon sheets -or leaves connected together in loose leaf form,such-binder mechanisms are not essential to my invention and the sheets or leaves ma be -mounted on the device in any other suitable manner. Also, binder mechanism, when used-maybe secured either to the backbone of the device or to either of the frontcover elements thereof as conditions may require.

It will be understood from the above that changes in the construction and arrangement of parts of :my invention may be resorted to with- .out departing from the field and scope there- .of,and Iintendtoinclude-all such variations, as tall within the-scope of the appended claims, in this application in which the preferred forms onlyof my invention have been disclosed.

-I-claimz :1. ::In a 'device of the character described, an inner member comprising a back element 'and substantially rigid cover elements hinged to said back element, said cover elements *being provided with ipockets for reception of the covers 'of a book, an outer member comprising 'hingedly connected back and 'cover "elements corresponding 'to and foldable over :said back and cover elements of said winner lmemb'er, 'and a stop member connecting the (1OW6I portions of said inner :and outer members limiting movement apart of their lower edges, the cover elements of said 'outerme'mber comprising hingedly connected substantially rigid' upper and lower sections, said upper sec- .tions :being hingedly connected at their upper edges to the upper edges of said inner cover elements, the combined lengths of said stop member and one of said lower sections being less than the combined lengths of said inner member and one of said upper sections.

2. In a device of the character described, an inner member comprising substantially rigid hingedly connected cover elements, an outer member comprising hingedly connected cover elements corresponding to and foldable over said cover elements of said inner member, said cover elements of said outer member each comprising substantially rigid upper and lower sections with said upper sections hinged at their upper edges to the upper edges of said inner cover elements, a foldable stop member connecting said inner and outer members adjacent their lower edges and limiting movement apart thereof, and an elastic member secured to said inner cover elements extending across the latter at the inner face thereof and placed under tension when said inner cover elements are opened.

3. In a device of the character described, an inner member comprising a back element and substantially rigid cover elements hingedly connected at their inner edges to said back element, an outer member comprising hingedly connected back and cover elements corresponding to and foldable over said back and cover elements of said inner member, said elements of said outer member each comprising hingedly connected upper and lower sections and the sections of said outer cover elements being substantially rigid with said upper sections hinged at their upper edges to the upper edges of said inner cover eleof said inner cover members below said elastic member.

4. In a device of the character described, an inner member comprising a back element and substantially rigid cover elements hingedly connected at their inner edges to said back element, an outer member comprising hingedly connected back and cover elements corresponding to and foldable over said back and cover elements of said inner member, said elements of said outer member each comprising hingedly connected upper and lower sections and the sections of said outer cover elements being substantially rigid with said upper sections hinged at their upper edges to the upper edges of said inner cover elements, a foldable stop member connecting said inner and outer members adjacent their lower edges and limiting movement apart thereof, an elastic member secured to said inner cover elements extending across the latter and said inner back element adjacent the lower edge of said inner member and placed under tension when said inner cover elements are opened, and supporting angle brackets secured to the inner faces of said inner cover elements below said elastic member, said brackets being positioned one lower than the other for disposal in interfitting relation when said inner cover elements are closed.

5. In a device of the character described, a back element and substantially rigid cover el ments hingedly connected at their inner edges to said back element, an elastic member secured to said cover elements extending across the latter and said back element at the inner faces adjacent the lower edges thereof and placed under tension when said cover elements are opened, and supporting angle brackets secured to the inner faces of said inner cover elements below said elastic member, said brackets being positioned one lower than the other for disposal in interfitting relation when said inner cover elements are closed.

6. In a display device, four members hinged together end to end in a closed loop for free relativ movement in either direction about their respective hinge axes, three of said members being substantially rigid, the combined lengths of two adjacent ones of said rigid members being materially greater than the combined lengths of the third rigid member and the fourth member, whereby one of the rigid members may be supported on a flat surface by the other three of said members at either one optionally of two different degrees of inclination to the supporting surface.

'7. In a display device, a substantially rigid rectangular front member, a back member comprising a substantially rigid rectangular upper section hinged at its upper end to the upper end of said front member and a substantially rigid rectangular lower section hinged at its upper end to the lower end of said upper section, and a stop member hinged at its ends to the lower ends of said front member and said lower section, the combined lengths of said front member and said upper section being materially greater than the combined'lengths of said lower section and said stop member.

8. In a display device, a substantially rigid rectangular front member, a back member comprising a substantially rigid rectangular upper section and a substantially rigid rectangular lower section, said upper section being hinged at its upper end to the upper end of said front member and freely movable relative thereto into parallelism therewith seating against the back thereof and into angular relation to said front member, said lower section being hinged at its upper end to the lower end of said upper section and freely movable relative thereto, and a stop member hinged at its ends to the lower ends of said front member and said lower section, the combined lengths of said front member and said upper section being materially greater than the combined lengths of said lower section and said stop member.

9. In a display device, a substantially rigid rectangular front member, means for retaining a plurality of leaves on said front member, a back member comprising a substantially rigid rectangular upper section hinged at its upper end to the upper end of said front member for free relative movement in either direction about its hinge axis and a substantially rigid rectangular lower section hinged at its upper end to the lower end of said upper section for free relative movement in either direction about its hinge axis, and a stop member hinged at its ends to the lower ends of said front member and said lower section with each of the latter being freely movable relative to said stop member in either direction about its hinge connection thereto, the combined lengths of said front member and said upper section being materially greater than the combined lengths of said lower section and said stop member. I

10. In a display device, a relatively stiff front displa board upon which material to be displayed is adapted to be supported, an upper relatively stiff backboard of a, length of the order of slightly less than one-half of the length of the display board hinged at its upper end to the upper end of the display board, a lower relatively stiff backboard of a length of the order of more than one-half of the length of the display board hinged at its upper end to the lower end of said upper backboard, and a foldable connecting member hinged to the lower end of the display board and to the lower end of the lower back board, the sum of the lengths of the two backboards being approximately equal to the length of the display board and the sum of the lengths of the backboards and the connecting member being substantially greater than the length of the display board, whereby the display board may be supported on a fiat surface at either a large acute angle to the surface or at a small acute angle to the surface.

11. In a display device, an inner member comprising a pair of substantially rigid inner cover elements hingedly connected adjacent their inner edges, a pair of outer cover elements one associated with each of said inner cover elements, each of said outer cover elements comprising a substantially rigid upper section and a substantiall rigid lower section hingedly connected to each other, said upper section of each outer cover element being hingedly mounted at its upper edge to the upper edge of its associated inner cover element, connecting means extending between and connected to said inner member and said outer elements, each upper section being adapted to be disposed against and substantially parallel with its associated inner cover member in which position said connecting means is adapted to limit spacing apart of the lower edges of each lower section and said inner member for supporting the latter in a first angular position with respect to the horizontal, and, optionally, each lower section and said connecting means being adapted to be disposed substantially horizontally with each upper section disposed angularly to said inner member for supporting the latter in a second angular position with respect to the horizontal, and sheet supporting means carried by said inner section.

12. The combination of claim 11 characterized by the connecting means being foldable to be disposed between the inner and outer cover elements.

13. The combination of claim 11 characterized by the provision of an elastic member secured to said inner cover elements extendin across the latter at the inner faces thereof and placed under tension when said inner cover elements are opened.

14. In a display device, a substantially rigid front member upon which sheets to be displayed are adapted to be supported, means for supporting said front member optionally in one of two angular positions with respect to the horizontal,

said means comprising a back member having a substantially rigid upper section and a substantially rigid lower section hingedly connected to each other, said upper section being hingedly connected to said front member, and connecting means extending between said lower section and said front member, said upper section being adapted to be positioned against and substantially parallel to said front section, said connecting means limiting spacing apart of the lower edges of said lower section and said front member to angularly support the latter in a first angular position to the horizontal, and, optionally, said lower section and said connecting means being adapted to be disposed substantially horizontally with said upper section disposed substantially angularly to said front member to support the latter in a second angular position to the horizontal.

15. In a display device, an inner member comprising substantially rigid inner cover elements hingedly connected adjacent their inner edges, outer covering means comprising outer cover elements corresponding to and adapted to be superimposed over said inner cover elements, said outer elements each comprising a substantially rigid upper section and a substantially rigid lower section, the upper section of each outer cover element being hingedly mounted to its associated inner cover element whereby each upper section is adapted to be positioned against and substantially parallel with the upper portion of said inner member, connecting means extending between said lower sections and said inner member, said connecting means limiting spacing apart of the lower edges of the lower sections and said inner member when the upper sections are disposed against and substantially parallel with said inner member for supporting the latter in a first position angular to the horizontal, and, obtionally, the lower sections and said connecting means being adapted to be disposed substantially horizontally with the upper sections disposed angularly to said inner member to support the latter in a second position angular to the 

